Machado talks defense and the O's ponder the next move for Jimenez
So does Manny Machado get more satisfaction from a big hit or a great defensive play?
"I don't know, they are both up there," Machado said. "Big hit you help your team, big play you help your team. It's a win-win situation."
Well, that's true. Defense doesn't go into a slump. Well, it almost never goes into a slump. I can remember a time earlier this year when both Machado and J.J. Hardy seemed a bit off their game with the glove, but it didn't last long.
Recently we saw Machado make two remarkable plays and throws as he ranged into foul territory. He showed off his big arm, once making a great throw on the run and once making a throw by planting his feet and then firing across the diamond. On the move or not, Machado has one of the best infield arms in the game. Does he surprise himself?
"Sometimes," he said. "You practice for it, but you never really know if it's going to happen. We do look at it and say, 'Wow, that was a nice play, how did I do that?' We're here playing and kind of expect to make the plays and do those things."
The Orioles value defense and clearly Machado got the memo.
"Of course. It's all about defense. Defense wins games. Defense wins championships," Machado said. "Not offense, defense. We have a great pitching staff and at the same time we are working our butts off to be the best position players we can be. That goes for the whole team. You see it in BP, we are working. We make sure we have done everything so that when we get to the game we're prepared."
By the way, Machado recently hinted that he's playing at 100 percent now and may have been still slowed a bit by offseason knee surgery when he first returned to the team.
"It does feel good to finally have my legs under me a little bit," he said. "I'm just playing and having fun. I was once told that this game is very humbling and if you treat the baseball gods the right way, they will reward you. That is what I've been doing, playing and having fun."
Now onto another topic.
What should the Orioles do with pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez? He's ready to come off the disabled list.
Do the O's go to a six-man rotation? Send Jimenez to the bullpen? Keep him on the DL longer?
With all five starters pitching pretty well right now, and the bullpen humming along, there is no obvious fit for Jimenez. This was a guy that excited so many fans when the club spent big money to sign him and now some don't seem to want him back on the active roster.
Has the Jimenez situation become a problem or a distraction?
If has not been all bad with the right-hander. He got off to a terrible start, pitching to a 6.59 ERA in April. But since then, he is 3-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts. Only Bud Norris has a better ERA right now than 3.73 among O's starting pitchers.
You know that old baseball saying, 'Things have a way of working out.'? They usually do and when a player is ready to come back to the roster someone is ready to go on the DL or be optioned to the minors.
But this one has not worked itself out. Jimenez is ready to come back and there is no clear spot for him. What to do with Ubaldo?
Recently we saw Machado make two remarkable plays and throws as he ranged into foul territory. He showed off his big arm, once making a great throw on the run and once making a throw by planting his feet and then firing across the diamond. On the move or not, Machado has one of the best infield arms in the game. Does he surprise himself?
"Sometimes," he said. "You practice for it, but you never really know if it's going to happen. We do look at it and say, 'Wow, that was a nice play, how did I do that?' We're here playing and kind of expect to make the plays and do those things."
The Orioles value defense and clearly Machado got the memo.
"Of course. It's all about defense. Defense wins games. Defense wins championships," Machado said. "Not offense, defense. We have a great pitching staff and at the same time we are working our butts off to be the best position players we can be. That goes for the whole team. You see it in BP, we are working. We make sure we have done everything so that when we get to the game we're prepared."
By the way, Machado recently hinted that he's playing at 100 percent now and may have been still slowed a bit by offseason knee surgery when he first returned to the team.
"It does feel good to finally have my legs under me a little bit," he said. "I'm just playing and having fun. I was once told that this game is very humbling and if you treat the baseball gods the right way, they will reward you. That is what I've been doing, playing and having fun."
Now onto another topic.
What should the Orioles do with pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez? He's ready to come off the disabled list.
Do the O's go to a six-man rotation? Send Jimenez to the bullpen? Keep him on the DL longer?
With all five starters pitching pretty well right now, and the bullpen humming along, there is no obvious fit for Jimenez. This was a guy that excited so many fans when the club spent big money to sign him and now some don't seem to want him back on the active roster.
Has the Jimenez situation become a problem or a distraction?
If has not been all bad with the right-hander. He got off to a terrible start, pitching to a 6.59 ERA in April. But since then, he is 3-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts. Only Bud Norris has a better ERA right now than 3.73 among O's starting pitchers.
You know that old baseball saying, 'Things have a way of working out.'? They usually do and when a player is ready to come back to the roster someone is ready to go on the DL or be optioned to the minors.
But this one has not worked itself out. Jimenez is ready to come back and there is no clear spot for him. What to do with Ubaldo?
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